SAN FRANCISCO – Entering the second week of conference play, the San Francisco State women's volleyball team will return to the road after two-straight weeks at the friendly confines of the Main Gym at the Don Nasser Family Plaza. The Gators will take on Bay Area rivals Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and Cal State East Bay on Saturday. Live stats will be available for both matches and can be accessed on the volleyball schedule page.
The Gators enter this week with an overall record of 1-8 and are 0-1 in the CCAA. Last week, SF State fell to visiting Sonoma State in straight-sets. On the road this season, SF State is 1-3 with their lone win coming against Montana State-Billings in the finale of the Hawaii Invitational two weeks ago.
As a team, SF State has 317 kills, averaging 10.23 kills per set while hitting .169. Their opponents have recorded 458 kills, averaging 14.77 kills per set and are hitting .294 on the season. Leading the team in kills with 87, is junior outside hitter
Christine Johnson. Sophomore middle blocker
Lauren Williams is tops on the team with a .320 attack percentage, which ranks fourth in the CCAA.
The middle continues to be an area where the Gators are rapidly maturing, Williams is fourth on the team with 47 kills and leads the team with 20 total blocks. Joining her in the team lead in blocks is red-shirt freshman
Abby Griffith who has 20 total blocks and 42 kills, while hitting .275.
Senior setter
Linda Aerne is leading the team with 232 assists, she averages 7.48 assists per set, while freshman libero
Emily Johns leads the team with 116 digs, averaging 3.74 digs per set. Last weekend, against the Seawolves, Johns had a career-night, tallying a match-high 18 digs.
Friday's contest against Cal State Monterey Bay is the 17
th time these two teams have squared off. The Gators currently hold a 10-6 advantage in the series. Last season, the Gators swept the season series taking both matches in straight-sets.
This year, the Otters are 5-4 and are 0-2 in the CCAA. Last weekend they fell to Stanislaus State and Chico State in straight-sets. As a team, they average 10.79 kills per set and are hitting .163. Their opponents are averaging 11.82 kills per set, while hitting .155.
Leading the Otters in kills is sophomore outside hitter Anela Viseio who has 102 kills on the year, averaging 3.00 kills per set. Running the Otter attack is setter Whitney Hirst who has 248 assists on the season, averaging 7.29 assists per set.
Saturday's contest against the Pioneers marks the 57
th time these two teams have faced each other, the Gator's own a 45-12 advantage in the series. Last year, the Gators took both matches and have won four in a row over the Pioneers.
CSUEB enters this weekend with a 4-6 overall record and are 0-2 in the CCAA. At Pioneer Gymnasium, they are 4-4. As a team, the Pioneers have 441 kills, averaging 12.3 kills per set and are hitting .158. Their opponents have recorded 455 kills, averaging 12.6 kills per set and are hitting .168.
Cal State East Bay is led by setter Katie Ireland who is fifth in the CCAA, averaging 8.97 assists per set, she is also seventh in digs per set with 4.44.
Both matches are slated for a 7:00 p.m. start, for in game updates be sure to follow the Gators on twitter @SFState_Gators.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
